Pete's MONTGOMERY CANAL PHOTO-SITE Abermule to Newtown (Section 15)

Pete's Montgomery Canal Photo-site.

Brynderwen (Abermule) to Newtown ( Section15 ).

This section is only navigable for small portable craft but, if you enjoy walking, the towpath forms a pleasant walk. Restoration of Byles Lock has previously been accomplished. Newhouse Lock is now the next target on the restoration hit list. The SUCS work team having established itself on site and started work on the bye-weir.
After leaving the restored Brynderwyn Lock, the canal travels along side the A483 Trunk road for a short distance in the direction of Newtown before it is crossed by the " New Road Bridge" that used to carry the main road into and through Abermule. The canal continues to run parallel to the road and alongside but at a higher level than the River Severn until it passes below the A483 through a tunnel like bridge before heading away from the Abermule area. It originally rose through five locks before reaching its terminal basin in Newtown. Sadly, its present course now ends at the feeder from the Penarth Weir below the site of the Freestone Lock from where to Newtown the course has mostly been obliterated although most of the towpath is still traceable before reaching Newtown itself where the basin and wharf areas have disappeared below housing development.

Brynderwyn.
Prominently sited by Brynderwen Lock at Abermule, sandwiched between the canal and the A483 trunk road is the Shropshire Union Canal Company Warehouse.

A peculiarity in the canal company maps named the lock Brynderwen but the bridges Brynderwyn.

Brynderwyn New Road Bridge. ( Bridge no. 147 ).
The bridge itself was cast in 1853 at the Brymbo Ironworks near Wrexham but, due to increased traffic loading, a brick pillar had to be constructed to support the center of the bridge. Weight restrictions were later imposed as weights became even heavier.

Abermule Bypass Bridge (Bridge no. 147a) seen from the towpath on the approach from the Brynderwen side. The bridge provides navigable headroom but has not been provided with a tow-path.

Southern end of the Abermule Bypass Bridge.

A light at the end of the tunnel.
A view of the previously seen bridge on the approach from Byles Lock.

Byles Lock Bridge (Bridge no. 148).
After leaving both the road and the river, the canal follows the contour of the hill before a gentle rise in the land brings us to Byles Lock Bridge with its lock keepers cottage.

Byles Lock with its lock keepers cottage is found past Bridge no. 148
The lock has a rise of 7 foot 2½ inches and is in a good state of repair having already been restored. The entrance to the bye-weir is clearly seen to the left of the photo.

Leaving Byles lock, the canal passes through another attractive tree lined section.
Evidence of bank restoration work is marked by metal bank pilings.

New House Lock Bridge ( Bridge no. 149 ).
New House Lock Bridge with its overgrown approach brings us to a collection of houses and farm buildings which are the last habitations for over half a mile before reaching Aberbechan.

New House Lock (7 foot 9½ inches rise) .
Between New House Lock Bridge (No. 149) and New House Bridge (No. 150) lies New House Lock itself. Badly in need of restoration, it is the next restoration project for the SUCS work team . Evidence of their presence is noted by the containers on the lock side and a start of work on the bye-weir.

Aberbechan.
The Bridge, Aberbechan Kiln Bridge ( Bridge no. 151), marks the site of an area that in years gone by had boasted a coal wharf, lime kiln and corn mill.

Aberbechan Aqueduct ( Bridge no. 151A).
Just past Aberbechan Kiln Bridge we come to the Bechan Brook over which the canal passes on a mainly stone built three arch aqueduct but some brickwork was incorporated in its construction.

A feature of this aqueduct are the stone cutwaters that are of a well proportioned curved and pointed construction .

Near to Aberbechan. A view along the towpath looking in the direction of Aberbechan Aqueduct from the Aberbechan Road Bridge (Bridge no. 152 ).

Aberbechan Road Bridge ( Bridge no. 152).
This bridge is constructed of stone piers with tied brick jack arches supporting moulded cast iron girders that have produced one of the strongest bridge structures of the whole canal.

The North side of the bridge carries the mark of the Brymbo (Wrexham ) Ironworks and a construction date of 1852.

Bridge number 152.
Another view of the Aberbechan Road Bridge, this time from the B4389 that is carried over the bridge from the A483 trunk road towards the village.

Note the stone parapet walls on either side of the road as it rises gently over the canal.

Newtown. View of the original path of the canal and towpath seen through the scrub that now covers it.
This photo was taken from the side of the adjacent road as the canal approaches the Newtown area.

Newtown. Behind the old buildings of the Central Dairy Newtown Depot that was built over the course of the canal. At this point, only the embankment separated its course from the River Severn.

Off Canal Road, Newtown, a transport depot now covers the line of the canal but evidence of its path can still be found. This was the site of a bridge.

Newtown. On the opposite side of the road to the previous photo, part of the bridges wall is still evident, incorporated into the garden boundary.

Newtown. This sign on "LOWER CANAL ROAD" is the only evidence that remains of the canals terminal basin at Newtown. The whole area is now covered by residential properties.